A group of thieves disguised themselves as construction workers to break into the renowned Louvre gallery in Paris in a daring heist that lasted only seven minutes. The incident occurred just as the museum was preparing to open to the public on Sunday morning, with the robbers targeting valuable jewelry once owned by Napoleon and his family.
French authorities have assigned 60 investigators to handle the high-profile case and have initiated a manhunt to apprehend the perpetrators. This marks the first robbery at the Louvre since 1998 when a painting by artist Corot was stolen.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez disclosed that nine items were stolen, with two of them recovered shortly after the thieves dropped them. The entire theft operation was executed within a brief seven-minute timeframe.
The criminals arrived at the Louvre museum on motorbikes and took advantage of the ongoing renovation work at a section of the museum. While two individuals entered the building through a window, another pair, dressed as construction workers, used an extendable ladder from a truck to gain access to the Apollo Gallery.
Using angle grinders, the thieves cut through the window and forced their way into the building. According to Minister Nuñez, the break-in involved the use of a handheld disc cutter. One of the individuals acted as a lookout outside, while another remained on the ground level.
After locating their target, the thieves used a chainsaw to access two glass cabinets containing prized possessions. The group, described as a “strike team” by Chief Prosecutor Laure Beccuau, threatened museum guards with the same tools they used for the theft.
Although the alarms were operational at the time, it remains uncertain if they were activated during the robbery. The stolen items included nine valuable jewels from the Napoleon and Josephine Bonaparte collection, such as a tiara, sapphire necklace, and emerald and diamond pieces.
As they fled the scene, the gang accidentally dropped and damaged the Eugénie Crown, a historic piece adorned with diamonds and emeralds. The robbers made their escape on motorbikes and headed towards the A6 motorway.
French authorities are actively pursuing the case, with a significant investigative effort underway to locate and apprehend the suspects. This incident marks the first robbery at the Louvre in over two decades, highlighting the audacious nature of the heist and the challenges faced by security personnel in safeguarding priceless cultural treasures.